Life's unexpected turns

Good morning, my friends--and it truly is a good morning. The past month has been one giant "bump in the road" and I'm honestly so thrilled to be back with you today with a smile on my face. Things could have turned out so very differently...

Four weeks ago tonight, my dear husband fell down the entire flight of stairs in our home (13 uncarpeted solid oak stairs) and broke his neck. Yes, I can hear many of you gasping as you read this... He broke the C7 vertebra--at the very bottom of the neck, the one that sticks out the most. As I lay in bed that night, I heard him fall (I was having a hard time falling asleep) and the sounds of his body thudding down the stairs will haunt me forever. He didn't cry out or yell which leads us to believe that he was either sleepwalking (although he had never done so in the past) or only partially awake. We spent the rest of that night in the local hospital's Emergency Room (where I prayed harder than I have ever prayed in my life!). He was then transported to the trauma center of a larger hospital in the city where he spent the day and another night and was then released with instructions that he must not drive and must wear a hard neck brace--24 hours a day, even in the shower and in bed.

My husband certainly had an angel on his shoulder that night as he came away with limited injuries. There was no paralysis as his spinal cord was not compromised! Unbelievable, isn't it? A true miracle in my opinion... I can't begin to tell you the horror stories that we've heard from others about the outcomes of friends or relatives who had similar falls. He suffered cuts and bruises all up and down his left side (face, shoulder, elbow, knee), but it is his right arm that seems to have come away with the longer lasting effects. In the beginning, he suffered horribly painful stinging sensations going up and down the arm through the median nerve. Thankfully, they seem to have ended, but the numbness and tingling sensations in two fingers on his right hand remain. The doctor says that could be permanent or could eventually clear up--there is no way to tell. But, if that is the only residual effect after suffering a fall like that, I consider him to be incredibly blessed!

My oldest son moved right in with us for the month and was a true godsend... I really could not have managed without his help--both the physical aid and the emotional support he gave were priceless. He drove my husband into work a couple of days, made a few delicious suppers along with some tasty mint-chocolate chunk gelato, helped with any lifting or chores my husband couldn't do, and just lifted our spirits with his presence. Since he can work remotely from anywhere in the world, my son's job wasn't affected, either. I was able to continue to go to work knowing my husband had my son nearby, too, and my fellow librarians were a huge source of comfort and support.

An accident like this takes you through every emotion imaginable--fear, anger, sorrow, hope, and just plain gratefulness that it wasn't worse. Every time I walk the stairs in our home, I'm reminded of how just a few seconds could have possibly changed our life together--forever. And I've learned to hold on tighter--not only to the stair railing, but to my dear family members, as well...

My husband returned to work this week (he is allowed to change out of the hard neck brace into a soft collar for his drive to work) and it appears that he won't need surgery. The heat of wearing the neck brace (which he will have to endure most of the summer) is driving him crazy with this hot, humid weather, but he realizes that is just a small inconvenience in the scheme of things. The vertebrae in his neck are not quite aligned, but the spinal surgeon isn't sure if that is a result of the accident or if he was born that way. The long-term outlook is positive and I'm finally able to breathe again... 

Baby raccoons exploring our pond

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only scary thing that happened around here last month! When all three sons were visiting the last weekend in May (helping out with gardening and other chores my husband couldn't do) we spotted a pair of baby raccoons playing out by our pond. Oh, they were just adorable and on that Saturday night, the guys were out taking photos of them while my husband and I watched from our kitchen table indoors.  (My oldest son took these wonderful raccoon photos and gave me permission to share them with you). My animal loving (and ever-trusting!) middle son, reached out to pet one of the little creatures and it bit him! Just a teeny nip, but we couldn't take a chance that the raccoon carried rabies so off they all went to the hospital's Emergency Room for the first in a series of rabies shots. 

Don't be deceived by these sweet faces--they bite!

It's a good thing he took the safe route of getting the shots as that same baby raccoon appeared in our yard, strolled right up to the patio in broad daylight, and acted a bit "off" just three days later. He was stumbling as he walked and we weren't sure if that was because he had rabies or if he was just young. Anyway, the police came and took him away and we never did see the other baby again... The fact that the mother was never seen at all makes us believe that there was a very good chance that they were all infected with the rabies! I doubt my sons will ever try to pet a wild animal again after that experience...

Then the following day, my oldest son came downstairs and asked what was on his back. Yikes!!! It was a tick--the head of the tick had already burrowed into my son's back and the arms and legs were sticking out. So, so creepy... Lyme Disease has been on the increase in our area and can have truly debilitating, long-lasting effects and with the number of deer we have in our area, there was a good chance that this was a deer tick that carried the disease. So, once again, off to the urgent care clinic went my sons to have the tick removed and receive the recommended dosage of antibiotics. Thankfully, my youngest son escaped with no mishaps and safely took the bus back home to Washington, D.C. that evening!

They say "bad things happen in threes." Are we done now? I sure hope so...

One thing that kept me going throughout those first few weeks after my husband's fall was checking on the progress of this cardinal's nest that I spotted right outside our family room window. Three beautifully speckled eggs with the mama cardinal sitting so patiently on them day in and day out.

And then I got to watch the babies hatch--one by one. They were so funny looking in the beginning with those big, bulgy eyes and pale featherless skin... I would mimic the mother bird's chirp and they would actually open their little mouths in anticipation of being fed. So adorable!

Feed us! Feed us!!

Sadly, the "circle of life" took charge and a hungry cat discovered the nest... Well, you know how that story ended. And yes, I cried... I've cried a lot this month.

I haven't looked at blogs or stitched much since my husband's fall; I've just been too unsettled and too busy. I will be taking a quick trip to New York to visit my mother this weekend and to attend my niece's bridal shower (my son will stay with my husband to make sure he doesn't push himself!), but I hope to start visiting all of your blogs/replying to emails next week when I get back home.

Throughout this ordeal I've witnessed firsthand the fragility of life and I recently came across this quote which certainly made me think about how I want to live my life... how about you? Leave no regrets...

Life is fragile--leave no regrets...

I hope to be back soon with some actual stitching to share with you. I've really missed each of you over the past month... Until then, my friends, treasure life! Bye for now...